Comanche County Posted October 11, 2010 Share Posted October 11, 2010 As simple as this problem seems to track down and solve --- I haven't. I've tried three new belts, all of them squeal louder than Ned Beatty at a Georgia Redneck Canoe festival. :D All pulleys seem to be aligned - or are they? I've tried the wire brush technique, haven't tried the soap trick yet. I've shopped around for a Gatorback belt which I hear are the best - no joy. I've tried different tensions,,,,nothing stops it. It is the belt for sure, all pulleys seem to be fine. Anyone else had it this bad? p.s. This is getting aggravating, especially since losing high frequency hearing in my left ear in Iraq (thanks a lot you Ansar al Sunna Schmucks)...so my hearing aid amplifies that belt squeal which annoys the crap out of me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted October 11, 2010 Share Posted October 11, 2010 Agree on the Gatorback belts. :cheers: Does it squeak at idle, at rev, turning on the A/C (if you have it), or all the above? Have you tried the poor mans 1/2" heater hose stethoscope to your good ear at each pulley? Had a similar problem; turned out to be a bad idler pulley bearing. Common bearing, easy fix. HTH. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Comanche County Posted October 11, 2010 Author Share Posted October 11, 2010 No A/C on this original Colorado truck. I think its the belt because the noise goes away with a new belt with approximately the same tension. But after about 50 or so miles it starts again. The last belt did it at idle, the new belt on it now waits until 1500-2000 rpms to start whining and whines consistently on the highway at around 2500 rpms. When I remove a whining belt, I find that the flat side is glazed and I believe that is the main indicator where the problem lies. Some pulley is glazing the flat side....is that possible,,,,does that make sense? I've tried belt squeal spray but I think that just masks the problem and isn't a long term solution and can actually contribute to the problem later on. I refuse to spray anything on the new belt that's on it now, Perhaps its just a tension issue? Serpentines really don't need much tension and if I tighten it too much I'm afraid I will cause a bearing to burn out. Maybe I just need to crank it down? Or do I have it too tight? Question,,,how do I measure tension? I know about the 1/2" of travel rule of thumb if you push the belt up and down. What is the tension spec for a serpentine on a Renix 4.0 and is there a specific place between pulleys to measure? The only tool I've got to measure resistance of that sort is a compound bow pulley which would give me an approximate measure of resistance in lbs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ratrapp Posted October 11, 2010 Share Posted October 11, 2010 4.0 belts have to be pretty tight to not squel.i use the cheaper brand bando belts on my vehicles and haven't had any problems.the glazing is probably from the belt slipping from not being tight enough.the belt dressing stuff is bad for serpentine belts.i would just get a new belt and gradually tighten it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimoshel Posted October 11, 2010 Share Posted October 11, 2010 The fact that the belt is glazing on the back side indicates a bad idler pulley. Why not squirt a little WD40 or penetrating oil on the them and see? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PIKE Posted October 11, 2010 Share Posted October 11, 2010 Perhaps its just a tension issue? Serpentines really don't need much tension and if I tighten it too much I'm afraid I will cause a bearing to burn out. Maybe I just need to crank it down? Or do I have it too tight? I think your belt is too loose. Try one of these. http://www.napaonline.com/Search/Detail ... 0006447252 Takes out all the guess work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drahcir495 Posted October 11, 2010 Share Posted October 11, 2010 Try one of these. http://www.napaonline.com/Search/Detail ... 0006447252 Takes out all the guess work. :cheers: You always seem to have the solution to my problems - Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PIKE Posted October 11, 2010 Share Posted October 11, 2010 I should also add that the FS manual for 1989 specs are, New belt 180-200 lbs-f Used belt 140-160 lbs-f Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Comanche County Posted October 11, 2010 Author Share Posted October 11, 2010 Thanks, does the FSM state how to measure the tension? That Napa link just sent me to their store locator. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Comanche County Posted October 11, 2010 Author Share Posted October 11, 2010 Ah, tension gauge! I found it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timmaay Posted October 11, 2010 Share Posted October 11, 2010 I had a similar problem (belt squealing, glazed on smooth side) and it turned out that the harmonic balancer was separating causing the belt to be pulled sideways on the water pump pulley. I also bought the tension gauge from NAPA (~$20) and i didn't find it all that useful. My belt doesn't squeal at all and I have it much looser than the suggested tension. Why put extra stress on the bearings? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
64 Cheyenne Posted October 11, 2010 Share Posted October 11, 2010 Perhaps its just a tension issue? Serpentines really don't need much tension and if I tighten it too much I'm afraid I will cause a bearing to burn out. Maybe I just need to crank it down? Or do I have it too tight? I think your belt is too loose. Try one of these. http://www.napaonline.com/Search/Detail ... 0006447252 Takes out all the guess work. Is this gauge for a serpentine belt? Technically, is a serpentine belt called a "V-ribbed belt"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mule13 Posted October 11, 2010 Share Posted October 11, 2010 i had a squeaky belt couldnt figure out what it was, i turned the truck off and one ata time sprayed wd40 into the bearings on the things with bearings alternator idler pulley etc... spray crank squeal spray next crank still squeal sprayed the front of the pully on the alternator and squeak went away for an hour or so, got a new alternator and never squealed again, the pulley seemed ok and spun freely without the belt on so idk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timmaay Posted October 11, 2010 Share Posted October 11, 2010 Perhaps its just a tension issue? Serpentines really don't need much tension and if I tighten it too much I'm afraid I will cause a bearing to burn out. Maybe I just need to crank it down? Or do I have it too tight? I think your belt is too loose. Try one of these. http://www.napaonline.com/Search/Detail ... 0006447252 Takes out all the guess work. Is this gauge for a serpentine belt? Technically, is a serpentine belt called a "V-ribbed belt"? the ribs are v shaped...So I assume so. I still don't think he needs it but here is the part number anyway. NAPA Part number: NBH KR2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PIKE Posted October 12, 2010 Share Posted October 12, 2010 Is this gauge for a serpentine belt? Technically, is a serpentine belt called a "V-ribbed belt"? Yes, in this case. They make one for a V-belt and one for a V-ribbed belt. I think its pretty handy. Think of it like a tire pressure gauge, you could guess at that too. :cheers: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oizarod115 Posted October 12, 2010 Share Posted October 12, 2010 the by-ear way of checking tension on a serp belt is find the longest length, and it should be able to turn 90* with a fair amount of effort, if it turns further than that easily, to loose, if it doesn't turn that far, to tight. this is generally the accepted way of doing it. i don't know any mechanics that own a belt tension gauge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyleag89 Posted October 12, 2010 Share Posted October 12, 2010 :agree: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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